Africa-Press – Mozambique. President Daniel Chapo reaffirmed on Thursday, in Lisbon, his commitment to deepening historical ties with Portugal, valuing political, economic and human cooperation between the two countries.
During a meeting with the Mozambican community living in Portugal and after visiting the Muungano Exhibition, on the 50 years of History, Art and Culture of Independent Mozambique, the head of state paid special tribute to the diaspora and called for a bilateral relationship based on reciprocity of treatment and facilitation of conditions for living and investing.
During the meeting with his compatriots, the government official highlighted the symbolic gesture of the Portuguese president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who participated in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of national independence in Maputo. “It was a very strong sign of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two peoples,” he said, highlighting that the shared history and the coexistence of mixed families require the strengthening of cultural, linguistic and diplomatic bridges between the two states.
Recalling the context of Mozambique’s independence and the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, the head of state stressed: “While the Portuguese celebrate April 25, we celebrate June 25 […]. All of us, both Portuguese and Mozambicans, were fighting against the same enemy, which was the regime and not the Portuguese people or the Mozambican people.”
President Chapo reported that the relaunch of relations between the two governments was discussed with the Portuguese prime minister, Luís Montenegro, with the emphasis on the economic pillar. “We believe that Portugal and Mozambique can work together, with Portuguese businesspeople investing in Mozambique and Mozambican businesspeople investing in Portugal,” he said, advocating for a greater balance in investment flows and technical cooperation.
On the occasion, he also highlighted the importance of ensuring equal treatment for Mozambicans living in Portugal, comparable to the welcome offered to Portuguese citizens in Mozambique. “There must be reciprocity in the good way we treat people,” he stressed, calling for the simplification of the process of legalizing residence for Mozambicans who live, study or start a family in Portugal.
President Chapo also announced that the two countries would hold a bilateral summit on 8 and 9 December in Lisbon. “We will assess the level of execution and implementation of the agreements between our governments, because sometimes agreements are signed and we think they are already being implemented […] but they are not,” he warned, proposing that the next 50 years of cooperation be more productive and effective.
The Mozambican statesman took the opportunity to thank the Mozambican community for its contribution to the 2024 general elections. Finally, when visiting the Muungano Exhibition, President Daniel Chapo praised the talent and creativity of Mozambican artists around the world. “We would like to congratulate all Mozambican artists […]. This is an excellent initiative that shows that Mozambique continues to live on in the hearts of its children, even far from the country,” he said, ending the day with an appeal for unity and national pride on the fiftieth anniversary of independence.
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